Common Cat Allergies and How To Treat Them
Wondering why your cat hasn’t been feeling their usual self and appears dull? Well, it may be because they’re having an allergic reaction, yet you have no clue about it!
There’s no need to slam the alarm button just yet, and no, this doesn’t make you a bad pet owner. It may come as a surprise, but humans aren’t the only ones who suffer from allergies or become unwell; your cat can also experience them.
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Cat allergies may appear when there is intolerance to certain foods.
Irritation from environmental substances or pollen, skin reactions due to temperature changes, and so on. And they’re more common than you think!
Suppose you notice a change in behavior in your cat, from excessive coughing and sneezing to runny eyes or increased diarrhea. In that case, they may be experiencing an allergic reaction. Read on to learn more about common cat allergies and how they can be treated.
Most Common Cat Allergies
Cats produce multiple allergies or proteins that can cause allergies. These are found on the fur, skin, and saliva. Additionally, they come in various forms, and sometimes, it’s hard to establish exactly what they are. To give you a better understanding of what your furball is going through, here are some typical feline allergies
- Flea Allergy
Fleas are more of a concern for outdoor cats as compared to indoor ones. These can cause a severe feline allergic reaction and pose a threat not just to cats but to any animals. But with cats allergic to their saliva, their entire body can be affected, not just the bitten part.
Technically, cats aren’t allergic to fleas, but they are allergic to flea saliva. Therefore, cats with flea allergies lick and scratch compulsively, and often, their skin is raw, causing infarction. It can happen after as little as one to two flea bites, and itchiness can last longer. To prevent this cat allergy from happening, you can invest in flea-prevention products to protect them.
- Food Allergy
Certain proteins or additives in food can lead to feline allergies. The most common types include chicken, dairy, wheat, fish, or eggs proteins. There is nothing wrong with the food, but your cat must avoid these as they may contain any ingredient they are allergic to. These allergies can result in symptoms such as itchy red skin, loose stool, or vomiting.
Your vet may conduct a test diet to diagnose the allergy, and if the cat does have it, a prescription diet may be recommended.
- Environment Factors
Did you know cats can have the same allergic reactions due to the environment as humans? In other words, your cat may be allergic to pollen from grass, weeds, trees, or molds. The list of potential allergens is quite long and can vary depending on which plants are found near your location. Usually, feline allergic reactions occur due to inhaling these allergens; however, direct skin contact can also be the reason.
- Atopic Dermatitis
It is a severe skin condition where the skin turns red with hair loss in the infected areas. If you notice your cat itching constantly, they may have developed this condition, requiring professional treatment.
- Other Allergies
Most cat allergies fall into the above-listed categories. However, there may also be other triggers, such as contact allergies. This happens when cats are allergic to plastic. For these, plastic food bowls must be avoided as they can cause chin acne or lesions caused by the skin touching the plastic surface of their bowl. Also, certain fabrics or laundry detergents can also result in contact allergies.
Cat Allergy Symptoms
When your cat is sick and is dealing with allergies, the symptoms can range from mild to severe depending on the sensitivity and level of exposure to the insulin. Those variables can influence how quickly the symptoms develop after the exposure. Some of the common feline allergy symptoms include:
- Facial pain due to nasal congestion
- Sneezing or running nose.
- Coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
- Watery, itchy, or red eyes.
- Skin rash.
- Hives, scabs, or swelling.
- Fur or hair loss.
- Ear infections.
- Lip or mouth ulcers.
- Diarrhea or vomiting.
Your cat may display several of the symptoms listed above or just one or two. Any of these symptoms are enough to consider allergies as a possible cause behind your cat’s declining health. For that reason, we advise you to visit an expert vet to properly diagnose the allergic reaction and apply the appropriate cat allergy treatment.
Treating Cat Allergies
Cat allergy treatment does require making changes at home, such as keeping it dust-free. There are other solutions too that involve medication and more. There are standard allergy drugs available, and accordingly, your doctor might recommend the following:
- Over-the-counter drugs such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine, fexofenadine, or some antihistamines such as azelastine as a nasal spray.
- Decongestants or allergy drugs.
In addition, your vet can determine the best treatment to treat the cat allergy. For example, nasal symptoms can be treated with steroid nasal spray or oral medications. Likewise, eye symptoms can be treated with specific eye drops. In contrast, asthma-related symptoms can be treated with inhaled corticosteroids to provide relief. Your vet may recommend allergy shots as an option, but they are not always effective, as the treatment can take years.
We have listed some of the essential tips to help your cat deal with allergies and treat them better.
- Avoidance is the key to managing feline allergies.
- Regularly use a high-efficiency vacuum cleaner to reduce allergen levels.
- Bathe your cat at least once a week to reduce the airborne allergens.
With this, we conclude our article on common cat allergies and how you can treat them. Typically, cats are very good at hiding discomfort or the pain they may be experiencing. However, the allergies tend to be noticeable.
Therefore, whenever you notice some unwanted symptoms, don’t ignore the signs. Instead, see a doctor as together you can figure out the best way to tackle the problem at bay.
Are you looking for more informative articles about cats and how to manage their well-being? Read through our informative blogs to keep yourself informed.
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